You may be living with a bed bug infestation in your home and not even be aware of it. These microscopic insects are excellent at hiding themselves during the day, only emerging during the night to bite humans and pets. Female bed bugs lay hundreds of eggs, and if the infestation is not mitigated through pest control measures, they can reproduce several times a year. The signs below will help you recognize a bed bug infestation.

Molted Skins
Immature bedbugs must feed in order to reach their next life stage, and after that feeding they molt, or shed, their exoskeletons. To reach adulthood, bed bugs must feed and molt five times, so if you have an infestation, there may be large quantities of shed skins in your home. These appear as empty brownish-red bug shaped shells. Check along the baseboards in your bedroom and behind your bed’s headboard for molted bed bug skins.

Excrement Spots
Bed bugs do not feed every night—adults will bite a host only once every five to seven days, though of course if there are a large number of bugs you may experience bites every night. Between feedings, bed bugs digest the blood they have consumed and then excrete the waste, which can be identified as small, dark spots on the mattress, bed frame and other areas in your bedroom.

Bed bug Aggregations
Colonies of bed bugs tend to gather together in groups after feeding to rest, digest, and reproduce. The areas where they congregate, called aggregations, can appear at first glance to be simply spots of black mold or mildew. Look closer, however, and you will be able to identify bed bug aggregates by the presence of live and dead insects, excrement spots, molted skins, and eggs.

Bed bug infestations can quickly get out of hand if you don’t contact an experienced pest control professional. If you live in Orange County, call Payne Pest Management today at (949) 450-9955 to learn more about treatments for your home bed bug problem.  

Subterranean termites prefer to build their nests underground, and thus prefer to settle near homes where exposed wood sits in close proximity to the soil. Drywood termites, however, can live directly inside the wooden frame of your home, nesting in the walls, attic, or basement.

These small, light brown insects can cause significant damage to a structure by consuming the wooden support beams. Check dry areas of the home for infestation by tapping on exposed wood—hollow sounds could indicate the presence of a drywood termite colony. Additionally, this type of termite kicks waste out of the nest, so you may see scattered collections of fecal pellets below wooden doors, beams, or windowsills if you have a drywood termite infestation.

More than just irritating insects, termites are dangerous pests that can destroy large sections of your home, which will require costly remodeling to correct. If you suspect that you have a drywood termite colony somewhere on your Orange County property, call Payne Pest Management today at (949) 450-9955 to learn about termite control solutions.

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Bed bug infestations can happen to any homeowner, and the presence of these insect pests does not reflect poorly on your cleanliness or personal hygiene. Since they feed on mammalian blood, bed bugs can thrive in almost any home. They can enter your home by attaching themselves to your clothing, luggage, or other personal items. Below you will find a list of common places where you can pick up bed bugs:

Hotels and Motels
Bed bugs present in hotel or motel rooms can crawl into your luggage, where they will survive your flight or drive home and infest your house. When returning home from a vacation, even if you have stayed at four-star hotels, immediately wash all clothing from your suitcase to reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs home.

Movie Theaters
Cavernous, dark halls and upholstered seats create an unfortunately ideal breeding ground for bed bugs. Be careful when setting your jacket, purse, or backpack on the seat next to you, especially if the theater is older or seems a bit dingy.

Laundromats
Washing your clothes at a Laundromat can allow bed bugs to attach themselves to your belongings and infest your home. If you do find yourself doing laundry at a public facility, use hot water for the wash cycle and high heat in the dryer to kill any insects who might be searching for a new home.

Schools
Any type of school, from preschool through college, can be a potential source of a bed bug infestation. The pests can hide in rugs and jump from there to children’s stuffed animals, or crawl into backpacks. College students can bring bed bugs home to their parents in unwashed piles of bedding and laundry.

Despite your best efforts, bed bug infestations sometimes happen. If you notice any signs of these bloodsucking pests in your Orange County home, call Payne Pest Management today at (949) 450-9955 to learn about our professional pest control solutions. We also treat homes for termite invasions and other pest infestations.

Because termites burrow inside wooden support beams, they often remain hidden from view. Many homeowners do not know they have an infestation until these pests have caused severe damage to the structural integrity of the house. By keeping an eye out for signs of termites, you can catch them and eliminate them before the problem escalates.

This video will teach you the four most common signs of termite infestation. Mud tubes, sawdust debris, deterioration in exterior wood, and springtime termite swarms all indicate the presence of a colony. Learn more about these indications and also ways to prevent termite damage by watching this video.

If you notice any of the above signs of termite infestation, call Payne Pest Management at (949) 450-9955. We provide pest control solutions for Orange County homeowners suffering from termite, bed bug, cockroach, or other pest infestations.